There has been some serious discussion around town recently over the Cornwall Community Hospital’s policy of hiring only bilingual nurses. A well-respected doctor spoke up against the practice, saying it essentially discriminates against skilled anglophones in the province. There has been boisterous debate from both sides of the argument, with dozens of people weighing in via comments on the Standard-Freeholder website or in letters to the editor. The latest blow has fallen against the hospital, when South Stormont council voted to withhold funding to the facility in protest of the policy. This discussion isn’t over yet; add your opinion to the comments section below.

All three members of the Shafia family that are now in prison for killing four women have filed motions to appeal their guilty verdicts. They say the judge shouldn’t have considered testimony from an expert on “honour killings”, among other arguments. The trio – a father, his wife and son – were convicted by jury a couple of weeks ago for drowning their three daughters/sisters and the man’s first wife in the Kingston canal.

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum won votes in three states this week, further muddying the outcome of the GOP race for the nomination. Mitt Romney remains the frontrunner – though he’s not conservative enough for many Republicans – while support for Newt Gingrich continues to grow. Ron Paul is the fourth runner in the race to become the next presidential candidate. The National Post has a couple of sweet graphics on the ongoing developments – probably the best I’ve ever seen on a political contest. The next primary is on Feb. 28.

Anyone know where Maldives is? Right, somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Anyway, the country’s first democratically-elected president resigned yesterday and expects to be in jail tomorrow. Warrants have been issued for his arrest, though the charges are sketchy – something about terrorism and overthrowing the constitution. The vice-president took over the island nation after protesters, police and the military clashed in the streets over the imprisonment of a top judge. It’s okay, I’m confused too.